With 2012 coming to an end most of you will be thinking about resolutions for the New Year. What will your resolution be for 2013? Will it be one that you stick to for a week or is it going to be something that you will stay committed to all year long? Today, Lucy and I will be giving you some helpful hints on how to stick with your new year’s resolution.

Your resolution should be something that you really want, not something someone else wants you to do or something you think you should do. If you really want to kick that smoking habit, then do it!! Don’t just do it because your mother-in-law keeps nagging you every time she comes over to quit. Do you want to start to go to the gym three times a week to fit into that little black dress? DO IT!!! Don’t force yourself to go three times a week because your friends are always bugging you to go. The only way you will stick to a resolution is if you WANT to do it!

As Americans, we like to overdo it. With your New Year’s resolution, do not do that. Limit the number of resolutions you make. It may be best to limit yourself to two or three resolutions so you can concentrate on obtaining and maintaining those resolutions all year long. If you make too many resolutions you will begin to stress yourself out and ultimately set yourself up for failure.

Don’t be afraid to get specific with your resolution. If your resolution is to work out more, change it to I will work out Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m., or whatever days and times fit in to your schedule. Having a resolution that is vague will allow you to make excuses right off the bat.

Rather than making that one huge goal, make yourself a series of smaller goals. This will help you in the long run to reach your long term goal. Some people need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Why not set yourself up to see that light? Instead of saying I want to lose 20 pounds this year, say “I want to lose 5 pounds this month.” After you achieve that, say “Ok, next month I want to lose another 5 pounds”, or whatever your goal is. Setting yourself up with smaller goals will help you because they are much easier to reach, therefore keeping you motivated until you ultimately reach your big goal.

Making a New Year’s Resolution means you want to change something right? Well, Be prepared to change some habits. One reason that resolutions fail is people don't change the habits that sabotage them. This could mean tradeoffs, trade your one hour of couch time to help reach your resolution. Another helpful hint is to arrange your life to keep you from those temptations. Take the longer route to work to avoid that yummy doughnut shop. In addition, the harder you work towards your goal, the better it feels once you've reached it.

The final tip that Lucy and I thought would be helpful to share with you is FORGIVE yourself. If you fall off the wagon get back on. Do not think it’s the end of the world that you messed up. DO NOT GIVE UP, pick yourself up and start again. Slipping up is part of the process. Leonardo da Vinci did not paint his prefect picture the very first time out. We are sure he slipped up but he got back on track and kept trying.